Calcium signaling pathways

Calcium signaling pathways constitute a fundamental set of cellular mechanisms in which calcium ions (Ca²⁺) act as versatile second messengers in nearly all cell types. The pathways involve tightly regulated changes in intracellular calcium concentration, which control activities ranging from short-term responses (e.g., membrane excitability, secretion, contraction) to long-term processes (e.g., gene expression, proliferation, apoptosis). The core elements include transporters and channels such as voltage-gated calcium channels, store-operated calcium channels (e.g., ORAI1/STIM1), and receptor-operated channels, together with downstream effectors like calmodulin, calcineurin, and Ca²⁺-dependent kinases and transcription factors (e.g., NFAT, CREB). Disturbed calcium signaling is implicated in a variety of diseases, making components of these pathways therapeutic targets, although the pathway itself is not a single molecular drug target.

Other names

Calcium signalingCalcium ion signalingCa²⁺ signaling

Blockade of calcium entry through voltage-dependent or receptor-operated channels; Inhibition of downstream calcium-dependent effectors (e.g., calcineurin); Disruption of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE); Modulation of calcium pump activity.